April 13, 2012   date
Empower LA Newsletter header

Congratulations to the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates for their great presentation to City Council this week!  They presented recommendations from their white paper. (Part 1/Part2)  For a recap, please see the City Watch article by Ken Draper.

 

It has been another busy week for the Department as we continue to work towards the citywide elections, our upcoming EmpowerLA Leadership Academy workshops, our April 30th open house, as well as winding down our first ever and highly successful community garden academy (more on this next week).
 

This week, I had the opportunity to visit the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council (AVNC), and what a meeting it was - with over 100 people in attendance!  As is usually the case with such a large show of people, there was a contentious issue on the agenda regarding an action the board took to fund an arts project and an attempt to rescind the board action.  I was so impressed with the manner in which the board handled the matter.  Everyone clapped for every speaker regardless of where they stood on the issue. Board members with opposing views treated each other respectfully and setting a civil tone for all.  It reminded me why the Neighborhood Councils are so important for Los Angeles. It was the best of local democracy in action.  AVNC is doing something city government isn't designed to do, but is in many ways even more important for our city's quality of life  - community building.
 

Kudos and a hearty thank you to the AVNC board for your commitment to your neighborhoods.  A special congrats to out-going President Leonora Pitts. Under her leadership, the board has done so much for so many and with so little in the way of public funds. She will be leaving Los Angeles with her family. We will be losing one awesome leader, but I know that others will quickly fill in and rise to the challenge.

 

Just a reminder that our first EmpowerLA Leadership Academy starts tomorrow and don't forget to RSVP for our Open House!

BongHwan Kim
 
Sincerely,

 

BongHwan (BH) Kim,

General Manager

Department of Neighborhood Empowerment 

 

Empower Yourself.   

Empower Your Community. 

Empower LA.

 


 

Neighborhood Council Elections 
NC Swearing in Ceremony

Thank you very much for your comments on our draft elections report.  While we are still working out the election regions and dates, we have submitted our final elections report to the Education and Neighborhoods Committee, which will be meeting on Tuesday, April 17th, to discuss the Neighborhood Council elections.  Please note that in the final elections report, we have eliminated the option of Neighborhood Councils to opt out of the 2012 elections and extend their terms to 2014 pursuant to the Mayor's Office and Board of Neighborhood Commissioners' recommendations.  Please come to the committee meeting to provide your comments.   

City Attorney draft ordinance - (Letter to the Department/Report)

Click here for the City Clerk Elections Alternatives Survey Results Report.

Click here for our final elections report to the City Council.

Click here for the list of regions and proposed election weeks. 

We will be releasing the draft of our Election Manual next week and look forward to your comments.  Please remember the upcoming deadlines for elections:

May 12th - Bylaws amendment deadline to change to a selection process

May 16th - Last day to encumber funds for election outreach for next fiscal year  


Neighborhood Council Treasurer Training on April 26th
 
We will be conducting a training session for first-time and long-time Neighborhood Council Treasurers, authorized 2nd Signatories, and any other Board member who wishes to be better informed of the rules and guidelines for the Neighborhood Council Funding Program.

 

The training will be held on April 26th in our new office in City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street, Room 2005, Los Angeles, CA 90012, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Parking will be provided at P-2, which is beneath City Hall East (200 N. Main Street). Entrance is on Los Angeles Street, across from Parker Center, between Temple St. and First St.  The parking attendant will direct you to P-2, where you will park in the Visitor parking area. The elevators are located in the building closest to the direction from which you entered. Take the elevator to the 2nd floor (Main Street), where you will exit the building and cross the street to enter City Hall. There you will take the second set of elevators to the 20th floor.

 

Please RSVP and, if you do not have a parking pass, please provide us with your vehicle information so that we may arrange parking for you. 


 

 
RSVP for Our  Open House!
Please RSVP by April 23rd for our Open House on April 30th from
5 pm to 9 pm 
 
Program
 
5 pm
Registration, OfficeTours and Networking
 
6 pm
Dinner
 
6:30 pm
Opening Remarks by General Manager BongHwan (BH) Kim and Elected Officials
 
7 pm
Workshop "Advocacy that Works, Outreach that Connects, Elections that Empower" by Stephen Box
 
8 pm
Q&A and Dessert Mixer
 
Upcoming Events

  

Board of Neighborhood Commissioners Regular Meeting

 

Monday, April 16th
 
@ 1 pm

 

click for AGENDA

  

CITY HALL

10th FL Conference Center

Room 1070

200 N. Spring Street

Los Angeles 90012

 

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Education and Neighborhoods Committee
Monthly Meeting

 

Tuesday, April 17th
  
@ 1 pm

  

click for AGENDA 

   

 

CITY HALL

10th FL Conference Center

Room 1010

200 N. Spring Street

Los Angeles 90012

 

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Westside Regional Alliance of Councils

 

 

  @ 8:30 am

 

DOLORES RESTAURANT

11407 Santa Monica Blvd.

 Los Angeles 90025 

 

  

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South Los Angeles Alliance of Neighborhood Councils Monthly Meeting

  

Thursday, April 19th

  

@ 6:30 pm

  

COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCILS 
Suite 201
3731 Stocker St.

Los Angeles 90008 

  

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EmpowerLA

Leadership Academy

Classes

 

Saturday, April 14th

 

8 am  to 12:15 pm

 

NORTH VALLEY
CITY HALL
7747 Foothill Blvd.
Tujunga 91042
 
Empower Yourself 
"Get Connected"
Empower Your Community 
"Election Outreach"
Empower LA
"General Manager's Roundtable"

 

 &

 

Thursday, April 19th

 

6 pm to 9 pm

 

135TH STREET SCHOOL

Auditorium

801 W. 135th Street

Gardena 90247 

 

Empower Yourself

"Get Connected"

Empower Your Community

"Getting Good Press"

 

 

See all upcoming events

 

on our events calendar. 

 

 

Contact Us
Phone: (213) 978-1551
Fax: (213) 978-1751
 
Our New Address:
200 North Spring Street
20th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
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